Town of White Creek crews worked Sunday morning to dislodge ice and other debris from River Road, which was flooded by the combination of snow, ice and rain over the weekend. A guardrail and part of the Buskirk Bridge are seen in the foreground. The 19th-century bridge, one of four historic covered bridges in Washington County, spans the Hoosic River, connecting Washington and Rensselaer counties at Buskirk. Because of ice jamming and flooding, the bridge remains closed to vehicular traffic.

Town of White Creek crews worked Sunday morning to dislodge ice and other debris from River Road, which was flooded by the combination of snow, ice and rain over the weekend. A guardrail and part of the Buskirk Bridge are seen in the foreground. The 19th-century bridge, one of four historic covered bridges in Washington County, spans the Hoosic River, connecting Washington and Rensselaer counties at Buskirk. Because of ice jamming and flooding, the bridge remains closed to vehicular traffic.

The Route 418 bridge over the Hudson River in Warren County remained closed Sunday by ice jam-related problems that forced the river over the nearby road, and the county’s emergency services director said the extent of the damage could keep it closed for weeks.

Brian LaFlure, the county’s fire coordinator and emergency services director, said parts of River Road in Thurman south of Glen-Hudson Campsite were also impassible because of washouts from the flooded river.

The town of Thurman declared an emergency, as some residents were unable to drive out because of the damaged road, and LaFlure said snowmobiles were being used to get to them Sunday to find out if they wanted to evacuate or stay in place.

At least one man was assisted out, and the American Red Cross was going to help those who need temporary housing find it.

“We aren’t forcing them to leave, but we are suggesting it,” LaFlure said.

He said there have also been problems with people venturing into unsafe areas to see the ice and damage, and he said officials are asking that people steer clear of the area.

The bridge itself was intact, but the access road on its west side has been underwater since later Friday. How long the bridge will remain closed was unclear as of Sunday, but it could be an extended period of time.

“With the damage we have, the bridge could be closed for weeks or longer,” LaFlure said.

Water continued to flow over Route 418 on Sunday afternoon, as ice was blocking the river channel both north and south of the bridge.

The bridge connects Thurman and Warrensburg, and without it, residents on the Thurman side have to take long detours south to Lake Luzerne or north to Dippikill or South Johnsburg Road to get across the Hudson.

Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty, who is the county’s acting administrator, said he and Thurman Supervisor Cynthia Hyde have been in touch with state officials about the situation.

“The water’s not flowing. It’s stuck and it’s backing up,” Geraghty said. “They need to get a channel open in the river to get the water moving.”

LaFlure said dynamite used to be used to blast ice free, but that practice is now considered unsafe.

Golf Course Road in Warrensburg had ice up to the guardrail from the nearby Hudson.

Warrensburg-Stony Creek Road was also limited or closed near Cameron Road by the flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

A flood warning for the area of Thurman and Warrensburg is in effect until 10 a.m. Monday, according to the weather service.

The Hoosic River continued to flood late Saturday in the areas of Buskirk and Eagle Bridge, with a flood warning in effect there until 11:45 a.m. Sunday. River Road and county Route 103 were affected, but re-opened Sunday night, according to Washington County Public Safety Director Glen Gosnell.

State Route 418

Bridge reopens

The State Route 418 bridge across the Hudson on the border of Warrensburg and Thurman is seen on Thursday following the reopening of the bridge earlier that day after being closed Jan. 13. due to flooding.

Jenn March, Special to the Post-Star

State route 418 re-opens

An aerial photo above state Route 418 shows traffic moving Thursday in Thurman. The roadway re-opened to traffic Thursday after being closed due to flooding on Jan. 13.

courtesy NYSDOT

State route 418 re-opens

An aerial photo above state Route 418 shows traffic moving Thursday in Thurman. The roadway re-opened to traffic Thursday after being closed due to flooding on Jan. 13.

courtesy NYSDOT

State route 418 re-opens

An aerial photo above state Route 418 shows traffic moving Thursday in Thurman. The roadway re-opened to traffic Thursday after being closed due to flooding on Jan. 13.

courtesy NYSDOT

Route 418

State DOT crews work off of State Route 418 in Thurman on Thursday morning after the roadway reopened to one lane of traffic Wednesday night. The state estimated it removed 40 tons of ice from the roadway.

Cronin Golf Resort

Flooding

Jitka Bubenickova holds up a large chunk of ice at Cronin Golf Resort on Monday in Warrensburg as her husband, Thomas, daughter, Emma, 4, and son Thomas, 2, look on. Parts of the course have been flooded because of an ice jam.

Flooding

Flooding

Thurman Warrensburg Bridge flooding

River Road in Thurman was washed out Saturday. Men working to clear the Thurman Warrensburg Bridge can be seen in the foreground.

Courtesy of John R. French via Facebook

Route 418

Route 418 in Thurman, as seen from the Hudson River bridge, looking west.

Warren County emergency services

Route 418 early

The Route 418 bridge between Warrensburg and Thurman was closed Saturday because of flooding related to an ice jam near the bridge. The jam moved Saturday morning and water receded, but ice remained on the road.

Warren County emergency services

River Road in White Creek

River Road in the hamlet of Eagle Bridge was flooded by the Hoosic River early Saturday.

Washington County Public Safety

Metawee Middle Granville

The Mettawee River in Middle Granville on Friday.

Washington County public safety

Granville flooding

The Granville Little League complex was heavily flooded Friday by the Mettawee River.

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